This Southwest Sweet Potato and Turkey Bowl is a great weeknight dinner that is easy to pull together, uses uncomplicated ingredients, and is full of flavor! (Bonus, it is made in one skillet – except for the rice)
If you are the cook in your house the last thing you want in a weeknight recipe is hard to find ingredients. This recipe uses ingredients that are available year round: canned beans, canned or frozen corn, fresh sweet potatoes, tomatoes, cilantro, bell peppers, onions, garlic, ground turkey, white or brown rice, and lime.
That’s about as simple as it gets! Add a little of your favorite taco seasoning… yep, just the seasoning in the little packet… and you have a perfect dinner that is delicious and versatile.
Make Southwest Sweet Potato & Turkey Bowl Your Own
One great thing about this dinner is that it’s easily modified to suit your family’s preferences. Here are a few ideas to try:
- Use ground beef instead of ground turkey.
- Sub in pinto beans for black beans, or use both if you really love beans.
- Add fresh chopped jalapenos for a little kick. Add them in when you saute the turkey/onions/garlic/peppers.
- Make it meatless and take out the turkey all together.
- Top the bowl with a little guacamole or chopped fresh avocado.
- Add a 4oz can of chopped green chilies to add another layer of flavor. Add them in when you saute the turkey/onions/garlic/peppers.
- Omit the rice and serve as a salad over lettuce tossed with your favorite southwest dressing or salsa.
Burritos Not Bowls
Once in awhile I like to eat this as a burrito instead of a bowl. It is a great way to use up the leftovers – especially if you have family members that are picky about how their leftovers are served.
In a warm tortilla layer the cilantro lime rice, then the sweet potato/turkey mixture, top it with cheese and melt it in the microwave for 30 sec-1min, finish it with a couple tablespoons of salsa. Add a few chips and salsa or guac on the side and you have dinner!
Using Up Your Ingredients
A little side note here- this recipe only calls for 1/2lb. of ground turkey. It usually comes in 1lb portions. To use up the other half pound I like to plan to have spaghetti with meat sauce the same week this is on the menu. I cook the ground turkey with a little beef bouillon which flavors it enough to taste like ground beef. That way my kids think it is my normal spaghetti with meat sauce, everyone is happy, and I didn’t let the ground turkey go to waste!
I hope you give Southwest Sweet Potato & Turkey Bowls a try in your kitchen!
Love, Susie
Southwest Sweet Potato & Turkey Bowl
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb Ground Turkey I use 93% lean
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil divided
- 1/2 cup Onion diced
- 1 cup Bell Pepper diced (any color)
- 3 Garlic Cloves minced
- 1 1/2 cup Sweet Potatoes peeled, 1/2 inch dice
- 1/2 cup Black Beans drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup Corn frozen or canned
- 1 tablespoon Taco Seasoning reserve the rest of the packet for another time
- 3 tablespoons Water
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- Fresh Tomato chopped for garnish
- Fresh Cilantro chopped for garnish
- Cilantro Lime Rice for Serving - see recipe below
Instructions
- Over medium heat place 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet and saute the ground turkey, garlic, onion, and peppers until the turkey is cooked thru and the peppers and onions have softened, about 8-10 mins. Set aside on a separate plate.
- To the same skillet add 1 tablespoon of oil and the sweet potatoes. Saute over medium heat, stirring often, until they are fork tender, about 10-12 minutes.
- To the sweet potatoes add back the turkey mixture, black beans, corn, taco seasoning, and water. Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes while stirring to coat with seasoning.
- Serve over cilantro lime rice and then top with fresh chopped tomatoes and cilantro.
Cilantro Lime Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup Uncooked Dry White or Brown Rice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Vegetable Oil
- 2 teaspoons Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Cilantro chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the rice according to package instructions.
- After the rice is completely cooked, stir in oil, lime juice, cilantro, and a pinch of salt.
Notes
Pin the recipe for later!
Joan Rude says
Loved this recipe. It will be one of my “go to” recipes. This is definitely comfort food and it has wonderful flavor.
Susie says
YEAH!!!! We love it at our house too : )
Joan Rude says
Definitely trying this tomorrow night. It looks like Thanksgiving in a bowl. What a delicious combination of flavors. Thanks!
Susie says
Im so glad you are trying it!